ut very young, as are most of the policemen in Mexico, save
the Rurales, that splendid company of highwaymen whom Diaz bought over
from being bandits to be the guardians of the peace. This one eyed us
meaningly, but Sherry gave him a reassuring nod, and our talk went
on, while the blind man was fingering the money we had just given him.
Presently Sherry said to him: "I'm Bingham Sherry," adding some other
particulars--"and you're all right. I've a friend here who wants to talk
with you. Come along; we'll take you home--confound the garlic, what a
breath he's got!"

For a moment the blind man seemed to hesitate, then he raised his head
quickly, as if looking into Sherry's face; a light came over it, and
he said, repeating Sherry's name: "Si, senor; si, si, senor. I know you
now. You sit in the right-hand corner of the little back-room at the
Cafe Manrique, where you come to drink chocolate. Is it not?"

"That's where I sit," said Sherry. "And now, be gad, I believe I
remember you. Are you Becodar?"

"Si, senor."

"Well, I'm damned!" Then, turning tome: "Lots of these fellows look so
much alike that I didn't recognise this one. He's a character. Had a
queer history. I'll get him to tell it."

We walked on, one on either side, Sherry using his hat to wave away
the smell of garlic. Presently he said "Where've you been to-night,
Becodar?"

"I have paid my respects to the Maison Dore, to the Cafe de la
Concordia, to the Cafe Iturbide, senor."

"And how did paying your respects pay you, Becodar?"

"The noble courtesy of these cafes, and the great consideration of the
hidalgos there assembled rendered to me five pesos and a trifle, senor."

"The poor ye have always with you. He that giveth to the poor lendeth
to the Lord. Becodar has large transactions with Providence, mio amigo,"
said Sherry.

The beggar turned his sightless eyes to us, as though he would
understand these English words. Sherry, seeing, said: "We were saying,
Becodar, that the blessed saints know how to take care of a blind man,
lest, having no boot, he stub his toe against a stone."

Off came Becodar's hat. He tapped the wall. "Where am I, senor?" he
asked.

Sherry told him. "Ah!" he said, "the church of Saint Joseph is near."
Then he crossed himself and seemed to hurry his steps. Presently he
stood still. We were beside the church. Against the door, in a niche,
was a figure of the Virgin in stone. He got to his knees and prayed
fast. And yet a